'Scrubs' actor tries decor improv

August 04, 2007|By Chicago Tribune

Neil Flynn, who plays the tormenting janitor on NBC's "Scrubs," returns to his Chicago improv roots Saturday with a show at iO Theater in Wrigleyville. Joining him will be a group of his fellow Chicago ex-pats -- including "Anchorman's" David Koechner. Collectively, the guys are known as Beer Shark Mice.

Flynn, 46, was born on the South Side. Today, home is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom Spanish-style house in North Hollywood -- "a few miles from the noise and traffic of Hollywood." He lives alone with a cat named Mike that he found last year in the parking lot at work.

"I'm not much of a decorator," he says, "so I'd describe the place so far as somewhere between a bachelor's pad and a kids' fort."

One thing you have in your house from your childhood:

I have some books of plays that I stole from my father's bookcase in about 8th grade.

What is the oldest thing in your fridge or freezer?

I never finish milk before it expires, so there's always a carton in the fridge that I'm afraid to go near.

Weirdest thing in your house?

A ceramic squirrel that somebody gave me. Maybe it should go in the yard, or in the garbage, but it's in my bathroom.

Favorite household chore:

Favorite chore? Wow ... I'll be in charge of cleaning the stove, since I've never used it.

Most high-tech gadget or appliance in your home:

I have an Xbox. Is that high-tech?

Best furniture bargain you ever got and where'd you get it?

When I was younger, I wasn't above dragging some couch or bookshelf home that someone else had thrown away. Free is a good price.

Messiest room in the house?

The kitchen. I'm not an avid dishwasher.

If you had to save one "thing" from your home, what would it be?

I'll go with the [Michael] Jordan jersey.

Do you do any friendly snooping when visiting the homes of others?

No. Do people do that? I might need to hide some things.

Biggest difference between living in Chicago early in your career and the way you live now?